title: Insect-machine hybrid system.
abstract: We demonstrated the remote control of insects in free flight via an implantable radio-equipped miniature neural stimulating system. This paper summarizes these results. The pronotum mounted system consisted of neural stimulators, muscular stimulators, a radio transceiver-equipped microcontroller and a microbattery. Flight initiation, cessation and elevation control were accomplished through neural stimulus of the brain which elicited, suppressed or modulated wing oscillation. Turns were triggered through the direct muscular stimulus of either of the basalar muscles. We characterized the response times, success rates, and free-flight trajectories elicited by our neural control systems in remotely-controlled beetles. We believe this type of technology will open the door to in-flight perturbation and recording of insect flight responses.
authors.lastname: Vo Doan Tat Thang
authors.forename: Svetoslav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kolev
authors.lastname: Huynh Ngoc Anh
authors.lastname: Zhang Chao
authors.forename: Travis L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Massey
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abbeel
authors.forename: Michel M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Maharbiz
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D004210:Dissection; D005426:Flight, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D011846:Radio Waves; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000502:physiology